300mm plus Lens Club: discuss your long lenses

Chris Mak · 06-18-2019, 12:51 PM - **12 Likes**

While missing my former DA560 for its solid long distance performance and its top-level detail and clarity, I have found myself a new hobby: BIF

Seriously, in hindsight I would not have sold my DA560. I woúld have gotten the Canon 400DOII as I did, but would have saved up a bit longer, and would have gone in against my principle that I can only own óne 4000,- + lens.

Let's see what the Pentax new APS-C flagship will be next year. If it is very good, I will re-purchase the DA560 with the new Pentax flagship. The Canon 400DOII is a great lens, but very different from the DA560, which still remains a "600mm-light" prime. I know Sony has its new 200-600 zoom, but IQ will be so-so at 600mm compared to the DA560, and Pentax remains the only brand to make a top level detail 600mm'ish prime lens. It could not do shots like this one though, which is also at 560mm with the 1.4TC.

Chris

Last edited by Chris Mak; 03-24-2020 at 02:44 PM.

str8talk83 · 06-18-2019, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by Chris Mak

While missing my former DA560 for its solid long distance performance and its top-level detail and clarity, I have found myself a new hobby: BIF

Seriously, in hindsight I would not have sold my DA560. I woúld have gotten the Canon 400DOII as I did, but would have saved up a bit longer, and would have gone in against my principle that I can only own óne 4000,- + lens.

Let's see what the Pentax new APS-C flagship will be next year. If it is very good, I will re-purchase the DA560 with the new Pentax flagship. The Canon 400DOII is a great lens, but very different from the DA560, which still remains a "600mm-light" prime. I know Sony has its new 200-600 zoom, but IQ will be so-so at 600mm compared to the DA560, and Pentax remains the only brand to make a top level detail 600mm'ish prime lens. It could not do shots like this one though, which is also at 560mm with the 1.4TC.

Chris

I'm on the list of people who hope that Nikon makes a 600 PF lens. I'm not holding my breath though...

Have you thought of trying out the 500 PF? I preordered the Sony 200-600 and will post images after I've gotten to try it out.

**riseform** · 06-18-2019, 05:03 PM - **5 Likes**

Originally posted by Chris Mak

While missing my former DA560 for its solid long distance performance and its top-level detail and clarity, I have found myself a new hobby: BIF

Seriously, in hindsight I would not have sold my DA560. I woúld have gotten the Canon 400DOII as I did, but would have saved up a bit longer, and would have gone in against my principle that I can only own óne 4000,- + lens.

Let's see what the Pentax new APS-C flagship will be next year. If it is very good, I will re-purchase the DA560 with the new Pentax flagship. The Canon 400DOII is a great lens, but very different from the DA560, which still remains a "600mm-light" prime. I know Sony has its new 200-600 zoom, but IQ will be so-so at 600mm compared to the DA560, and Pentax remains the only brand to make a top level detail 600mm'ish prime lens. It could not do shots like this one though, which is also at 560mm with the 1.4TC.

Chris

Aw, come on, BIF with the K3 and 560 is a piece of cake!

Ok, I'm lying, that's a repost from 2015 and it probably took over 70 attempts to get that one shot.
Thanks for continuing to share your experience. I'm glad to hear you still have a soft spot for the 560 and if/when I add to my quiver for a dedicated BIF combo, I'll hang on to it.
I too am hoping for an upcoming improved AF K3ii successor, but if the 500 PF were currently available, I would have already pulled the trigger (along with the D500). I'm hearing nothing but good about that combo for BIF.

**tduell** · 06-18-2019, 05:10 PM - **8 Likes**

Little Pied Cormorant.
K-1, DFA 150-450 + 1.4xTC, handheld. See exif for shot details.

Cheers,
Terry

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

Chris Mak · 06-18-2019, 05:57 PM - **3 Likes**

Originally posted by riseform

Aw, come on, BIF with the K3 and 560 is a piece of cake!

Ok, I'm lying, that's a repost from 2015 and it probably took over 70 attempts to get that one shot.
Thanks for continuing to share your experience. I'm glad to hear you still have a soft spot for the 560 and if/when I add to my quiver for a dedicated BIF combo, I'll hang on to it.
I too am hoping for an upcoming improved AF K3ii successor, but if the 500 PF were currently available, I would have already pulled the trigger (along with the D500). I'm hearing nothing but good about that combo for BIF.

A piece of cake yes!

see image below.
Although I always needed a good deal of luck

If you do any far distance shooting in full daylight, e.g. over water, then it is probably a good idea to keep the DA560, because I have heard remarks that the Nikon PF lenses, like the Canon DO lens, are not really that good at far distance shooting either. It seems that my wish for the 400DOII with extenders to replace the DA560 with 1.4TC, only works with limitations.

---------- Post added 06-19-19 at 01:11 AM ----------

Originally posted by str8talk83

I'm on the list of people who hope that Nikon makes a 600 PF lens. I'm not holding my breath though...

Have you thought of trying out the 500 PF? I preordered the Sony 200-600 and will post images after I've gotten to try it out.

I did consider the 500PF + D500, but it did not help that prospect for delivery of the 500PF was not that good. I believe that is still the case.
Nikon may yet make a 600PF yes, but I am not sure if any PF or DO lens would excell in far distance performance, because the Nikon 500PF and 300PF also seem at their best with close to mid distance shooting. Perhaps there is after all no way around a good old large and cumbersome lens for that.

**stihlmania** · 06-18-2019, 06:20 PM - **13 Likes**

Some portrait shots from a few minutes ago. SMC A ☆ 400 F2.8 ED[IF] with Pentax F 1.7 AF adaptor. The fox is now 7 years old, I call him grandpa. He is the only fox around here with the left eye fur tuft so he is easily identified......And he is use to hearing the K3-II shutter....and the 1st D and the 1st DS....

**luftfluss** · 06-18-2019, 08:15 PM

Originally posted by Chris Mak

While missing my former DA560 for its solid long distance performance and its top-level detail and clarity, I have found myself a new hobby: BIF

Seriously, in hindsight I would not have sold my DA560. I woúld have gotten the Canon 400DOII as I did, but would have saved up a bit longer, and would have gone in against my principle that I can only own óne 4000,- + lens.

Let's see what the Pentax new APS-C flagship will be next year. If it is very good, I will re-purchase the DA560 with the new Pentax flagship. The Canon 400DOII is a great lens, but very different from the DA560, which still remains a "600mm-light" prime. I know Sony has its new 200-600 zoom, but IQ will be so-so at 600mm compared to the DA560, and Pentax remains the only brand to make a top level detail 600mm'ish prime lens. It could not do shots like this one though, which is also at 560mm with the 1.4TC.

Chris

I'm find this and your commentary in a previous post very interesting. Do you feel that the DA 560 excels at long distance shooting because it is somewhat of a telescope design? How far is "long distance"?

I recently acquired an old SMC Pentax 500mm F4.5 which is very large and obviously there was no attempt by the lens designers to make it compact in any way, and while futzing around with it I shot trees at least 300m distant and I was surprised at how decently sharp it rendered the foliage. Perhaps a degradation of distant quality is the price to be paid for more compact tele lens design?

Chris Mak · 06-19-2019, 03:12 AM - **4 Likes**

Originally posted by luftfluss

I'm find this and your commentary in a previous post very interesting. Do you feel that the DA 560 excels at long distance shooting because it is somewhat of a telescope design? How far is "long distance"?

I recently acquired an old SMC Pentax 500mm F4.5 which is very large and obviously there was no attempt by the lens designers to make it compact in any way, and while futzing around with it I shot trees at least 300m distant and I was surprised at how decently sharp it rendered the foliage. Perhaps a degradation of distant quality is the price to be paid for more compact tele lens design?

I used the DA560 quite a bit for shooting at greater distance and using the cropping power of the K3, in all sorts of light. In comparing with my current lens, it strikes me how well the DA560 performed in e.g. harsh light. Very little "glow", blooming or haziness. Very good fine detail, contrast and color in types of light where my current lens simply struggles. Light had to get really merciless for the DA560 to give in to atmospheric distortions. I am sure the Canon and Nikon 10.000,- 500mm guns will also perform well here, but I now know that such performance is not a given.
The image below may not look like it was taken in very bright light, because I adjusted the exposure in raw, but it was nonetheless, and if you look at the fine and subtle details in the legs and the beak for instance, and the color and contrast that were not adjusted but default, then I can only say that no way that I am going to get that level of detail and contrast in crops from the Canon 400DOII+1.4TC at this distance and in this light, while in good light and at medium distance, it can keep up with the DA560 despite the converter. And other things it does so much better, like longitudinal CA correction and AF speed. It may be though, that the use of diffractive optics takes it toll regarding handling of difficult light. The new Sony 200-600mm, with its surgeon like mirrorless AF precision, would be an interesting comparison...

**WPRESTO** · 06-19-2019, 03:33 AM

The 500mm f4.5 Takumar/Pentax is a really old design, and relatively simple, four elements in four groups. The only long tele I know of that has a simpler design is the 560mm f6.8 Leica/Novoflex which is a simple cemented doublet. For comparison, the 560mm Pentax has seven elements in six groups, and Sigma's 500mm APO EX has a whopping 12 elements in nine groups. The simple designs, even just a doublet, can be very sharp at the center*, but tend to be poor at the edges and are more prone to aberrations than modern complex designs.

*Very high quality astronomical apochromatic refractors are commonly cemented or air-spaced doublets or triplets.

**luftfluss** · 06-19-2019, 07:36 AM

Originally posted by WPRESTO

The 500mm f4.5 Takumar/Pentax is a really old design, and relatively simple, four elements in four groups. The only long tele I know of that has a simpler design is the 560mm f6.8 Leica/Novoflex which is a simple cemented doublet. For comparison, the 560mm Pentax has seven elements in six groups, and Sigma's 500mm APO EX has a whopping 12 elements in nine groups. The simple designs, even just a doublet, can be very sharp at the center*, but tend to be poor at the edges and are more prone to aberrations than modern complex designs.

*Very high quality astronomical apochromatic refractors are commonly cemented or air-spaced doublets or triplets.

Oh sure, the K 500/4.5 is a CA monster, but its surprisingly sharp performance at very long distance - better than the Tamron Adaptall 400/4 65B, which has a more complex optical formula and ED glass - in addition to the commentary by @Chris_Mak simply had me musing on the very large lens/very long performance correlation. Obviously there's a very small sample size at play, but I do find it interesting.

**WPRESTO** · 06-19-2019, 09:31 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by luftfluss

Oh sure, the K 500/4.5 is a CA monster, but its surprisingly sharp performance at very long distance - better than the Tamron Adaptall 400/4 65B, which has a more complex optical formula and ED glass - in addition to the commentary by @Chris_Mak simply had me musing on the very large lens/very long performance correlation. Obviously there's a very small sample size at play, but I do find it interesting.

I'll again point out that refractors designed for astronomy that have exceptional optical quality commonly a doublet or triplet design. What they lack for normal photographic purposes is a field flattener, and once that extra glass is added, other aberration may (or might not) appear. Center sharpness can be achieved relatively easily, but corner-to-corner sharpness without color fringing and other image-degrading problems is difficult

str8talk83 · 06-19-2019, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by Chris Mak

I did consider the 500PF + D500, but it did not help that prospect for delivery of the 500PF was not that good. I believe that is still the case.
Nikon may yet make a 600PF yes, but I am not sure if any PF or DO lens would excell in far distance performance, because the Nikon 500PF and 300PF also seem at their best with close to mid distance shooting. Perhaps there is after all no way around a good old large and cumbersome lens for that.

I’ve heard mixed reports about the PF issues at distance or in challenging light. I know that the original 400 DO from Canon has some issues and challenges in backlighting. I would guess that the non-diffractive objects would have a slight advantage in the circumstances you have described. The 500 PF is indeed a unicorn right now as well.

**marcusBMG** · 06-19-2019, 03:17 PM - **4 Likes**

Two kingfishers were being very obliging at the Spinnies. Big crops, small resize, icky light (1600asa).
K3, Tamron 300mm f2.8 (60B) + sigma apo 1.4x tc. egret and heron with newly acquired tamron 1.4x tc.

**rkappleby** · 06-19-2019, 05:47 PM - **16 Likes**

I have not posted in some time and in the last few months I decided to move to the D500 - it was a difficult decision as I have shot Pentax for 40 years but bottom line the camera is just a tool and Pentax has been very slow to provide an upgrade to the K3. So for my wildlife shooting I have made the change. Feeling like a traitor

Male turkey looking for a friend

**WPRESTO** · 06-20-2019, 07:57 AM

Originally posted by rkappleby

I have not posted in some time and in the last few months I decided to move to the D500 - it was a difficult decision as I have shot Pentax for 40 years but bottom line the camera is just a tool and Pentax has been very slow to provide an upgrade to the K3. So for my wildlife shooting I have made the change. Feeling like a traitor

Male turkey looking for a friend

WONDERFUL IMAGE!

06-18-2019, 12:51 PM - 12 Likes	#31321
Chris Mak Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 639	Bird in flight While missing my former DA560 for its solid long distance performance and its top-level detail and clarity, I have found myself a new hobby: BIF Seriously, in hindsight I would not have sold my DA560. I woúld have gotten the Canon 400DOII as I did, but would have saved up a bit longer, and would have gone in against my principle that I can only own óne 4000,- + lens. Let's see what the Pentax new APS-C flagship will be next year. If it is very good, I will re-purchase the DA560 with the new Pentax flagship. The Canon 400DOII is a great lens, but very different from the DA560, which still remains a "600mm-light" prime. I know Sony has its new 200-600 zoom, but IQ will be so-so at 600mm compared to the DA560, and Pentax remains the only brand to make a top level detail 600mm'ish prime lens. It could not do shots like this one though, which is also at 560mm with the 1.4TC. Chris Last edited by Chris Mak; 03-24-2020 at 02:44 PM.

06-18-2019, 05:57 PM - 3 Likes	#31325
Chris Mak Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 639	Originally posted by riseform Aw, come on, BIF with the K3 and 560 is a piece of cake! Ok, I'm lying, that's a repost from 2015 and it probably took over 70 attempts to get that one shot. Thanks for continuing to share your experience. I'm glad to hear you still have a soft spot for the 560 and if/when I add to my quiver for a dedicated BIF combo, I'll hang on to it. I too am hoping for an upcoming improved AF K3ii successor, but if the 500 PF were currently available, I would have already pulled the trigger (along with the D500). I'm hearing nothing but good about that combo for BIF. A piece of cake yes! see image below. Although I always needed a good deal of luck If you do any far distance shooting in full daylight, e.g. over water, then it is probably a good idea to keep the DA560, because I have heard remarks that the Nikon PF lenses, like the Canon DO lens, are not really that good at far distance shooting either. It seems that my wish for the 400DOII with extenders to replace the DA560 with 1.4TC, only works with limitations. ---------- Post added 06-19-19 at 01:11 AM ---------- Originally posted by str8talk83 I'm on the list of people who hope that Nikon makes a 600 PF lens. I'm not holding my breath though... Have you thought of trying out the 500 PF? I preordered the Sony 200-600 and will post images after I've gotten to try it out. I did consider the 500PF + D500, but it did not help that prospect for delivery of the 500PF was not that good. I believe that is still the case. Nikon may yet make a 600PF yes, but I am not sure if any PF or DO lens would excell in far distance performance, because the Nikon 500PF and 300PF also seem at their best with close to mid distance shooting. Perhaps there is after all no way around a good old large and cumbersome lens for that. Last edited by Chris Mak; 03-24-2020 at 02:44 PM.

06-19-2019, 03:12 AM - 4 Likes	#31328
Chris Mak Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 639	Originally posted by luftfluss I'm find this and your commentary in a previous post very interesting. Do you feel that the DA 560 excels at long distance shooting because it is somewhat of a telescope design? How far is "long distance"? I recently acquired an old SMC Pentax 500mm F4.5 which is very large and obviously there was no attempt by the lens designers to make it compact in any way, and while futzing around with it I shot trees at least 300m distant and I was surprised at how decently sharp it rendered the foliage. Perhaps a degradation of distant quality is the price to be paid for more compact tele lens design? I used the DA560 quite a bit for shooting at greater distance and using the cropping power of the K3, in all sorts of light. In comparing with my current lens, it strikes me how well the DA560 performed in e.g. harsh light. Very little "glow", blooming or haziness. Very good fine detail, contrast and color in types of light where my current lens simply struggles. Light had to get really merciless for the DA560 to give in to atmospheric distortions. I am sure the Canon and Nikon 10.000,- 500mm guns will also perform well here, but I now know that such performance is not a given. The image below may not look like it was taken in very bright light, because I adjusted the exposure in raw, but it was nonetheless, and if you look at the fine and subtle details in the legs and the beak for instance, and the color and contrast that were not adjusted but default, then I can only say that no way that I am going to get that level of detail and contrast in crops from the Canon 400DOII+1.4TC at this distance and in this light, while in good light and at medium distance, it can keep up with the DA560 despite the converter. And other things it does so much better, like longitudinal CA correction and AF speed. It may be though, that the use of diffractive optics takes it toll regarding handling of difficult light. The new Sony 200-600mm, with its surgeon like mirrorless AF precision, would be an interesting comparison... Last edited by Chris Mak; 03-24-2020 at 02:44 PM.

06-19-2019, 05:47 PM - 16 Likes	#31334
rkappleby Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Crowsnest Pass Alberta Posts: 648	Wild Turkey I have not posted in some time and in the last few months I decided to move to the D500 - it was a difficult decision as I have shot Pentax for 40 years but bottom line the camera is just a tool and Pentax has been very slow to provide an upgrade to the K3. So for my wildlife shooting I have made the change. Feeling like a traitor Male turkey looking for a friend Attached Images

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06-18-2019, 04:22 PM	#31322
str8talk83 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bluffton, SC Photos: Albums Posts: 674	Originally posted by Chris Mak While missing my former DA560 for its solid long distance performance and its top-level detail and clarity, I have found myself a new hobby: BIF Seriously, in hindsight I would not have sold my DA560. I woúld have gotten the Canon 400DOII as I did, but would have saved up a bit longer, and would have gone in against my principle that I can only own óne 4000,- + lens. Let's see what the Pentax new APS-C flagship will be next year. If it is very good, I will re-purchase the DA560 with the new Pentax flagship. The Canon 400DOII is a great lens, but very different from the DA560, which still remains a "600mm-light" prime. I know Sony has its new 200-600 zoom, but IQ will be so-so at 600mm compared to the DA560, and Pentax remains the only brand to make a top level detail 600mm'ish prime lens. It could not do shots like this one though, which is also at 560mm with the 1.4TC. Chris I'm on the list of people who hope that Nikon makes a 600 PF lens. I'm not holding my breath though... Have you thought of trying out the 500 PF? I preordered the Sony 200-600 and will post images after I've gotten to try it out.

06-18-2019, 05:03 PM - 5 Likes	#31323
riseform Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: WA, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 473	Originally posted by Chris Mak While missing my former DA560 for its solid long distance performance and its top-level detail and clarity, I have found myself a new hobby: BIF Seriously, in hindsight I would not have sold my DA560. I woúld have gotten the Canon 400DOII as I did, but would have saved up a bit longer, and would have gone in against my principle that I can only own óne 4000,- + lens. Let's see what the Pentax new APS-C flagship will be next year. If it is very good, I will re-purchase the DA560 with the new Pentax flagship. The Canon 400DOII is a great lens, but very different from the DA560, which still remains a "600mm-light" prime. I know Sony has its new 200-600 zoom, but IQ will be so-so at 600mm compared to the DA560, and Pentax remains the only brand to make a top level detail 600mm'ish prime lens. It could not do shots like this one though, which is also at 560mm with the 1.4TC. Chris Aw, come on, BIF with the K3 and 560 is a piece of cake! Ok, I'm lying, that's a repost from 2015 and it probably took over 70 attempts to get that one shot. Thanks for continuing to share your experience. I'm glad to hear you still have a soft spot for the 560 and if/when I add to my quiver for a dedicated BIF combo, I'll hang on to it. I too am hoping for an upcoming improved AF K3ii successor, but if the 500 PF were currently available, I would have already pulled the trigger (along with the D500). I'm hearing nothing but good about that combo for BIF.

06-18-2019, 08:15 PM	#31327
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by Chris Mak While missing my former DA560 for its solid long distance performance and its top-level detail and clarity, I have found myself a new hobby: BIF Seriously, in hindsight I would not have sold my DA560. I woúld have gotten the Canon 400DOII as I did, but would have saved up a bit longer, and would have gone in against my principle that I can only own óne 4000,- + lens. Let's see what the Pentax new APS-C flagship will be next year. If it is very good, I will re-purchase the DA560 with the new Pentax flagship. The Canon 400DOII is a great lens, but very different from the DA560, which still remains a "600mm-light" prime. I know Sony has its new 200-600 zoom, but IQ will be so-so at 600mm compared to the DA560, and Pentax remains the only brand to make a top level detail 600mm'ish prime lens. It could not do shots like this one though, which is also at 560mm with the 1.4TC. Chris I'm find this and your commentary in a previous post very interesting. Do you feel that the DA 560 excels at long distance shooting because it is somewhat of a telescope design? How far is "long distance"? I recently acquired an old SMC Pentax 500mm F4.5 which is very large and obviously there was no attempt by the lens designers to make it compact in any way, and while futzing around with it I shot trees at least 300m distant and I was surprised at how decently sharp it rendered the foliage. Perhaps a degradation of distant quality is the price to be paid for more compact tele lens design?

06-19-2019, 03:33 AM	#31329
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,108	The 500mm f4.5 Takumar/Pentax is a really old design, and relatively simple, four elements in four groups. The only long tele I know of that has a simpler design is the 560mm f6.8 Leica/Novoflex which is a simple cemented doublet. For comparison, the 560mm Pentax has seven elements in six groups, and Sigma's 500mm APO EX has a whopping 12 elements in nine groups. The simple designs, even just a doublet, can be very sharp at the center, but tend to be poor at the edges and are more prone to aberrations than modern complex designs. Very high quality astronomical apochromatic refractors are commonly cemented or air-spaced doublets or triplets.

06-19-2019, 07:36 AM	#31330
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Originally posted by WPRESTO The 500mm f4.5 Takumar/Pentax is a really old design, and relatively simple, four elements in four groups. The only long tele I know of that has a simpler design is the 560mm f6.8 Leica/Novoflex which is a simple cemented doublet. For comparison, the 560mm Pentax has seven elements in six groups, and Sigma's 500mm APO EX has a whopping 12 elements in nine groups. The simple designs, even just a doublet, can be very sharp at the center, but tend to be poor at the edges and are more prone to aberrations than modern complex designs. Very high quality astronomical apochromatic refractors are commonly cemented or air-spaced doublets or triplets. Oh sure, the K 500/4.5 is a CA monster, but its surprisingly sharp performance at very long distance - better than the Tamron Adaptall 400/4 65B, which has a more complex optical formula and ED glass - in addition to the commentary by @Chris_Mak simply had me musing on the very large lens/very long performance correlation. Obviously there's a very small sample size at play, but I do find it interesting.

06-19-2019, 09:31 AM - 1 Like	#31331
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,108	Originally posted by luftfluss Oh sure, the K 500/4.5 is a CA monster, but its surprisingly sharp performance at very long distance - better than the Tamron Adaptall 400/4 65B, which has a more complex optical formula and ED glass - in addition to the commentary by @Chris_Mak simply had me musing on the very large lens/very long performance correlation. Obviously there's a very small sample size at play, but I do find it interesting. I'll again point out that refractors designed for astronomy that have exceptional optical quality commonly a doublet or triplet design. What they lack for normal photographic purposes is a field flattener, and once that extra glass is added, other aberration may (or might not) appear. Center sharpness can be achieved relatively easily, but corner-to-corner sharpness without color fringing and other image-degrading problems is difficult

06-19-2019, 02:18 PM	#31332
str8talk83 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bluffton, SC Photos: Albums Posts: 674	Originally posted by Chris Mak I did consider the 500PF + D500, but it did not help that prospect for delivery of the 500PF was not that good. I believe that is still the case. Nikon may yet make a 600PF yes, but I am not sure if any PF or DO lens would excell in far distance performance, because the Nikon 500PF and 300PF also seem at their best with close to mid distance shooting. Perhaps there is after all no way around a good old large and cumbersome lens for that. I’ve heard mixed reports about the PF issues at distance or in challenging light. I know that the original 400 DO from Canon has some issues and challenges in backlighting. I would guess that the non-diffractive objects would have a slight advantage in the circumstances you have described. The 500 PF is indeed a unicorn right now as well.

06-19-2019, 03:17 PM - 4 Likes	#31333
marcusBMG Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: North Wales Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,869	Two kingfishers were being very obliging at the Spinnies. Big crops, small resize, icky light (1600asa). K3, Tamron 300mm f2.8 (60B) + sigma apo 1.4x tc. egret and heron with newly acquired tamron 1.4x tc.

06-20-2019, 07:57 AM	#31335
WPRESTO Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Massachusetts Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 59,108	Originally posted by rkappleby I have not posted in some time and in the last few months I decided to move to the D500 - it was a difficult decision as I have shot Pentax for 40 years but bottom line the camera is just a tool and Pentax has been very slow to provide an upgrade to the K3. So for my wildlife shooting I have made the change. Feeling like a traitor Male turkey looking for a friend WONDERFUL IMAGE!